Author's note: Ok guys, I hope this doesn't suck, and I say this with the most sincerity. Enjoy!
------------------------------
~*~CHAPTER 2~*~
The sun was high, and shone over the woods, dotting the ground with a mosaic of light and shadow. It laid it's painting over the roof of a stable, where elves were preparing for their journey. They would be leaving soon, and returning long past nightfall. Orcs hid well, though crudely, in the recesses of the wood.
"Legolas, we depart in but an hour. Do we have all we need?" asked a young rider name Eyol. This was one of his first times scouting, and while he had trained with a fervour unmatched by most, his nature had a aggressive quality that worried Legolas. Being over-confident was one of the biggest follies to fall upon an inexperienced fighter.
"Aye, we do. I see your excitement my young friend. Patience."
Eyol gave a swift nod, but his grip on his blade did not lessen. Leoglas resisted shaking his head. He was much like this once.
The two elves continued to prepare their equipment for the mission, loading their tall horses. Their departure was fast approaching. All the two waited for was Earendur, a high general of the elven army. He was an elf with significant battle experience and extremely apt in tracking and hunting. However skilled he was however, he was quite prone to arrogance. It was, Legolas thought, his most obvious achilles heel.
However arrogant, the general was, it did not keep him from being prompt. In but a few moments he had arrived, and the three mounted their horses. This hunting party was keep unusually small. Earendur felt it would make them more efficient, and give them and increase their speed. The bands of orcs rarely exceeded eight or ten, and number they could easily conquer with three skilled elven men.
---------------------------------
Lana rose from the water and inhaled a large gasp of breath. Anyone watching would've caught a beautiful scene indeed. It was rare that the elleth could be caught without a blood stained cloak, or dark mud streaked on her features.
Yes, it was good go be clean, and Lana enjoyed the bathing. Her boots and dark brown tunic warmed in the sun. Pulling herself from the waters, she walked up to her clothes, but paused when she heard distant sounds. They were voices, beautiful and light. Lana nodded. They were elves.
Hurriedly dressing, the warrior loaded her blades, and tied on her hooded cape. It reeked of death, and she now regretted not washing it. There really was no rush, in truth. Chances are, the elves were simple travellers, or perhaps, more of the kings orc scouts. Lana didn't mind them. If they were scouts, they only made her job easier.
Nevertheless, the elleth's curiosity begged that she at least see who it was. If they were indeed travellers, she might shadow them through the more dangerous parts of the wood. Despite elven confidence, the rare band of fifteen or more orc could overwhelm a small party.
Reaching her fingers into the black dirt of the river bank, Lana hastily coated her face with the substance. Then taking to the trees in a graceful pattern, Lana slowly began climbing towards the sounds. She nodded upon seeing those below her. It was a elven scouting party of three, but this was peculiar. Thraunduil usually sent out more men. The elleth pursed her lips in consideration.
Eventually, she decided it was best to follow the scouts for a while, perchance they encountered any trouble they couldn't handle. Lana sighed, examining those she would be tracking for a time. She noticed the younger looking elf bring up the rear of the trio. His grip on his sword would tighten and loosen in intervals, and he looked about the woods in a manner more erratic then suited to an elf. He was nervous.
This was all the more reason for her to trail them, making sure to move swiftly and silently in the trees. It was after some time, when boredom began to take it's toll on the elleth, that Lana began to smell it.
There was that familiar, disgusting odour in the air. Orcs were near. Swinging down to lower branches, Lana felt the world still around her. The elves below her had sensed it too, and stopped, sliding slowly off their horses.
It was only a matter of moment before bows were drawn, and the snarls and grunts of the beast could be heard nearing. By now the night had fallen, and chill was in the air. There were many of them, more then what was expected, and perhaps more of what the three elves could handle. Lana knew this from experience, just by listening to the sounds. There could be up to twenty relatively quiet orcs, or ten very loud ones.
It seemed to happen very quickly, and Lana herself would not remember what lead from that moment, to the chaotic fighting that she soon watched from the trees. However, the fighters were engaged, and the elves did not have a clear upper hand. It was obvious they did not expect such a large number of adversaries.
It turned out her bet was just about right. There where originally seventeen or eighteen orcs in the back. After some fighting, there were now about twelve, but the elves could not use their bows any longer.
Lana decided that she would not intervene unless he absolutely had too. She did not need to expose herself unnecessarily, to both orc and elf alike. Laying her torso flat on a thick branch, the elleth conceded to watching the show, her long blades drawn nevertheless, just in case the orcs began to gain the upper hand. That was still fairly unlikely.
The three elves were good fighters. Especially the one with the light blond hair. There was a certain sophistication in his movements that was lacking in the other two. The nervous elf that Lana had noticed early, dubbing him the name "shifty" in her mind, was carrying on fairly well. His moves were too bold however, and not precautions enough.
The last elf fought much better than shifty, but not as well as the blonde one. He did seem to be an experienced fighter however, and Lana did not worry about him, much.
Yes, but shifty was far still far too bold, despite a few close calls in the last few moments. He did not bait his attacker, but always went for the killing blows. It left him vulnerable, and sure enough, the orc capitalised on it. A pained gasp filled the air.
Shifty had got himself cut, fairly shallow, across the torso. Not thoroughly life threatening, but distracting enough to the others. Lana cursed underneath her breath. This was why she fought alone. Hoisting herself off the branch she rested on, the elleth landed on the ground and prepared to join the fray.
-----------------------------
Legolas whirled in a graceful arc, swinging his blade. He did not expect the fighting to last this long, but then again, the number of their opponents surprised him as well. It should've been fine however. Three capable elves against thirty orcs, and the elves probably still had the advantage.
Legolas noticed out of he corner of his eyes Earendur. He was doing well, as was expected. Eyol, on the other hand, was not guarding himself as well as he should have, and inadvertently exposing himself to injury.
The prince turned his head back to the orc he was fighting. A well placed stroke of the sword and he could move onto the next one. There were only about seven left. Suddenly, Eyol's scream resounded.
Legolas turned, knowingly committing a folly by exposing his back to enemy. He would risk it however, for it would be a dark day in Valinor before he would let Eyol fall.
-----------------------------
Stupid elf, Lana though. He was exposing his back, and the other experienced elf was too busy to guard him.
(It's lucky I'm here) Lana thought. Finally charging into the chaos, Lana began taken down orcs as if she had been there fighting all along. The two other elves did not even seem to notice her. "No," the elleth reminded herself. They noticed her, but they had also perhaps, expected her. King Thranduil had obviously found the rotting fruits of her labour.
Lana took down her first two orc easily, but found her attention distracted by her companions. The blonde one, and the experienced fighter where not as effective guarding their wounded friend. Despite the cut, Shifty was still standing and fighting, but it seemed most idiotic. The chance that he could become further injured, caused the other two fighters to worry more about protecting him, then they were themselves. Now they unknowing made themselves more vulnerable.
It was a mistake uncharacteristic to experienced fighters, and one that shouldn't have even happen. Lana knew what the problem was. These elves cared too much about one another, and it clouded their judgement. Both uninjured fighters knew the risk they placed themselves in, and did it nevertheless. Yes, Lana reminded herself, this is why the Surion fight alone.
All four elves were still struggling with the enemy, it's numbers dwindling, but ferocious nonetheless, when the universe saw fit to prove Lana right.
Right behind the blonde elf, there was an orc charged with his knife drawn. The idiot elf did not even notice, so busy was he guarding his wounded friend! Lana's eyes grew wide. He didn't notice, and in a few seconds he would be dead. Running towards the charging orc, Lana resisted shouting a battle cry as she decapitated the creature mid step. The blonde elf, looked at her with wide eyes. No, he wasn't looking at her, Lana realised. He was looking behind her.
"Watch out!" Leoglas yelled, raising his blade. Too late. There was a knife deep in Lana's shoulder, from orc who had lunged from behind. The elleth could not help but thinking once again, that this was why they worked alone. On her own, she would have never become this distracted. In fact, by herself, killing ten orcs was a vacation, but with three other fighters, dealing with two was dangerous.
Lana fell forwards in the blonde elf's arms, but rapidly pushed herself away from him. She would only be another distraction, and the last thing she wanted, was the fool to go and get killed right after she saved him. Lana did not look back as she dragged herself as far away form Before the elf could even protest another orc had challenged him.
She managed to drag herself a good ten feet way from the fight, despite the horrible pain in her arm. She wondered if she has screamed when first stabbed, but could not remember doing so. Now all she could remember was how good it felt to sleep. The last thing she remembered, was the stars smiling down at her.
----------------------------
In a moment, just as easily has the noise had invaded their senses, silence blanketed three shaken warriors. Orcs, decapitated and ripped open, were strewn upon the forest floor. Many looked up to the night sky with glossy, dead eyes, and the site was disturbing to say the least.
Legolas slowly looked around, seeing Eyol lying on the ground. The elf was in pain, but conscious, wincing as Earandur tended to his wound. At a glance, the prince knew Eyol would not die this night. It injury was barely more than a flesh wound, and would heal rapidly with medicine and proper binding.
The prince then looked around the forests, in a near frantic fashion. It was not so easy to forget the cloaked warrior who had saved his life. Walking into the woods, where he saw the figure crawl, he emerged a few moments later with the bundle in his arms.
Eyol and Earandur took in the site with great interest. Thranduil would be pleased, though the general, nodding his head.
"It is the warrior?" Earendur stated more than inquired.
"Indeed." Leoglas assured, staring at the mud streaked face before him. It was now uncovered by a the hood, and distinct elven ears were clearly visible.
"He is of our kin?" Eyol asked, feeling light headed, but not allowing it to deter his curiosity. Leoglas smiled. Yes, Eyol was sure to live.
"Yes Eyol, she is alive," Legolas said, making sure to emphasise the sex of his saviour. The two elves before him did little to hid their surprised.
------------------------------
~*~CHAPTER 2~*~
The sun was high, and shone over the woods, dotting the ground with a mosaic of light and shadow. It laid it's painting over the roof of a stable, where elves were preparing for their journey. They would be leaving soon, and returning long past nightfall. Orcs hid well, though crudely, in the recesses of the wood.
"Legolas, we depart in but an hour. Do we have all we need?" asked a young rider name Eyol. This was one of his first times scouting, and while he had trained with a fervour unmatched by most, his nature had a aggressive quality that worried Legolas. Being over-confident was one of the biggest follies to fall upon an inexperienced fighter.
"Aye, we do. I see your excitement my young friend. Patience."
Eyol gave a swift nod, but his grip on his blade did not lessen. Leoglas resisted shaking his head. He was much like this once.
The two elves continued to prepare their equipment for the mission, loading their tall horses. Their departure was fast approaching. All the two waited for was Earendur, a high general of the elven army. He was an elf with significant battle experience and extremely apt in tracking and hunting. However skilled he was however, he was quite prone to arrogance. It was, Legolas thought, his most obvious achilles heel.
However arrogant, the general was, it did not keep him from being prompt. In but a few moments he had arrived, and the three mounted their horses. This hunting party was keep unusually small. Earendur felt it would make them more efficient, and give them and increase their speed. The bands of orcs rarely exceeded eight or ten, and number they could easily conquer with three skilled elven men.
---------------------------------
Lana rose from the water and inhaled a large gasp of breath. Anyone watching would've caught a beautiful scene indeed. It was rare that the elleth could be caught without a blood stained cloak, or dark mud streaked on her features.
Yes, it was good go be clean, and Lana enjoyed the bathing. Her boots and dark brown tunic warmed in the sun. Pulling herself from the waters, she walked up to her clothes, but paused when she heard distant sounds. They were voices, beautiful and light. Lana nodded. They were elves.
Hurriedly dressing, the warrior loaded her blades, and tied on her hooded cape. It reeked of death, and she now regretted not washing it. There really was no rush, in truth. Chances are, the elves were simple travellers, or perhaps, more of the kings orc scouts. Lana didn't mind them. If they were scouts, they only made her job easier.
Nevertheless, the elleth's curiosity begged that she at least see who it was. If they were indeed travellers, she might shadow them through the more dangerous parts of the wood. Despite elven confidence, the rare band of fifteen or more orc could overwhelm a small party.
Reaching her fingers into the black dirt of the river bank, Lana hastily coated her face with the substance. Then taking to the trees in a graceful pattern, Lana slowly began climbing towards the sounds. She nodded upon seeing those below her. It was a elven scouting party of three, but this was peculiar. Thraunduil usually sent out more men. The elleth pursed her lips in consideration.
Eventually, she decided it was best to follow the scouts for a while, perchance they encountered any trouble they couldn't handle. Lana sighed, examining those she would be tracking for a time. She noticed the younger looking elf bring up the rear of the trio. His grip on his sword would tighten and loosen in intervals, and he looked about the woods in a manner more erratic then suited to an elf. He was nervous.
This was all the more reason for her to trail them, making sure to move swiftly and silently in the trees. It was after some time, when boredom began to take it's toll on the elleth, that Lana began to smell it.
There was that familiar, disgusting odour in the air. Orcs were near. Swinging down to lower branches, Lana felt the world still around her. The elves below her had sensed it too, and stopped, sliding slowly off their horses.
It was only a matter of moment before bows were drawn, and the snarls and grunts of the beast could be heard nearing. By now the night had fallen, and chill was in the air. There were many of them, more then what was expected, and perhaps more of what the three elves could handle. Lana knew this from experience, just by listening to the sounds. There could be up to twenty relatively quiet orcs, or ten very loud ones.
It seemed to happen very quickly, and Lana herself would not remember what lead from that moment, to the chaotic fighting that she soon watched from the trees. However, the fighters were engaged, and the elves did not have a clear upper hand. It was obvious they did not expect such a large number of adversaries.
It turned out her bet was just about right. There where originally seventeen or eighteen orcs in the back. After some fighting, there were now about twelve, but the elves could not use their bows any longer.
Lana decided that she would not intervene unless he absolutely had too. She did not need to expose herself unnecessarily, to both orc and elf alike. Laying her torso flat on a thick branch, the elleth conceded to watching the show, her long blades drawn nevertheless, just in case the orcs began to gain the upper hand. That was still fairly unlikely.
The three elves were good fighters. Especially the one with the light blond hair. There was a certain sophistication in his movements that was lacking in the other two. The nervous elf that Lana had noticed early, dubbing him the name "shifty" in her mind, was carrying on fairly well. His moves were too bold however, and not precautions enough.
The last elf fought much better than shifty, but not as well as the blonde one. He did seem to be an experienced fighter however, and Lana did not worry about him, much.
Yes, but shifty was far still far too bold, despite a few close calls in the last few moments. He did not bait his attacker, but always went for the killing blows. It left him vulnerable, and sure enough, the orc capitalised on it. A pained gasp filled the air.
Shifty had got himself cut, fairly shallow, across the torso. Not thoroughly life threatening, but distracting enough to the others. Lana cursed underneath her breath. This was why she fought alone. Hoisting herself off the branch she rested on, the elleth landed on the ground and prepared to join the fray.
-----------------------------
Legolas whirled in a graceful arc, swinging his blade. He did not expect the fighting to last this long, but then again, the number of their opponents surprised him as well. It should've been fine however. Three capable elves against thirty orcs, and the elves probably still had the advantage.
Legolas noticed out of he corner of his eyes Earendur. He was doing well, as was expected. Eyol, on the other hand, was not guarding himself as well as he should have, and inadvertently exposing himself to injury.
The prince turned his head back to the orc he was fighting. A well placed stroke of the sword and he could move onto the next one. There were only about seven left. Suddenly, Eyol's scream resounded.
Legolas turned, knowingly committing a folly by exposing his back to enemy. He would risk it however, for it would be a dark day in Valinor before he would let Eyol fall.
-----------------------------
Stupid elf, Lana though. He was exposing his back, and the other experienced elf was too busy to guard him.
(It's lucky I'm here) Lana thought. Finally charging into the chaos, Lana began taken down orcs as if she had been there fighting all along. The two other elves did not even seem to notice her. "No," the elleth reminded herself. They noticed her, but they had also perhaps, expected her. King Thranduil had obviously found the rotting fruits of her labour.
Lana took down her first two orc easily, but found her attention distracted by her companions. The blonde one, and the experienced fighter where not as effective guarding their wounded friend. Despite the cut, Shifty was still standing and fighting, but it seemed most idiotic. The chance that he could become further injured, caused the other two fighters to worry more about protecting him, then they were themselves. Now they unknowing made themselves more vulnerable.
It was a mistake uncharacteristic to experienced fighters, and one that shouldn't have even happen. Lana knew what the problem was. These elves cared too much about one another, and it clouded their judgement. Both uninjured fighters knew the risk they placed themselves in, and did it nevertheless. Yes, Lana reminded herself, this is why the Surion fight alone.
All four elves were still struggling with the enemy, it's numbers dwindling, but ferocious nonetheless, when the universe saw fit to prove Lana right.
Right behind the blonde elf, there was an orc charged with his knife drawn. The idiot elf did not even notice, so busy was he guarding his wounded friend! Lana's eyes grew wide. He didn't notice, and in a few seconds he would be dead. Running towards the charging orc, Lana resisted shouting a battle cry as she decapitated the creature mid step. The blonde elf, looked at her with wide eyes. No, he wasn't looking at her, Lana realised. He was looking behind her.
"Watch out!" Leoglas yelled, raising his blade. Too late. There was a knife deep in Lana's shoulder, from orc who had lunged from behind. The elleth could not help but thinking once again, that this was why they worked alone. On her own, she would have never become this distracted. In fact, by herself, killing ten orcs was a vacation, but with three other fighters, dealing with two was dangerous.
Lana fell forwards in the blonde elf's arms, but rapidly pushed herself away from him. She would only be another distraction, and the last thing she wanted, was the fool to go and get killed right after she saved him. Lana did not look back as she dragged herself as far away form Before the elf could even protest another orc had challenged him.
She managed to drag herself a good ten feet way from the fight, despite the horrible pain in her arm. She wondered if she has screamed when first stabbed, but could not remember doing so. Now all she could remember was how good it felt to sleep. The last thing she remembered, was the stars smiling down at her.
----------------------------
In a moment, just as easily has the noise had invaded their senses, silence blanketed three shaken warriors. Orcs, decapitated and ripped open, were strewn upon the forest floor. Many looked up to the night sky with glossy, dead eyes, and the site was disturbing to say the least.
Legolas slowly looked around, seeing Eyol lying on the ground. The elf was in pain, but conscious, wincing as Earandur tended to his wound. At a glance, the prince knew Eyol would not die this night. It injury was barely more than a flesh wound, and would heal rapidly with medicine and proper binding.
The prince then looked around the forests, in a near frantic fashion. It was not so easy to forget the cloaked warrior who had saved his life. Walking into the woods, where he saw the figure crawl, he emerged a few moments later with the bundle in his arms.
Eyol and Earandur took in the site with great interest. Thranduil would be pleased, though the general, nodding his head.
"It is the warrior?" Earendur stated more than inquired.
"Indeed." Leoglas assured, staring at the mud streaked face before him. It was now uncovered by a the hood, and distinct elven ears were clearly visible.
"He is of our kin?" Eyol asked, feeling light headed, but not allowing it to deter his curiosity. Leoglas smiled. Yes, Eyol was sure to live.
"Yes Eyol, she is alive," Legolas said, making sure to emphasise the sex of his saviour. The two elves before him did little to hid their surprised.